Abnormal potential-discharging and arc-disrupting device.



F. W. ERIOKSON 6; F. W. LORD. ABNORMAL POTENTIAL DISGHARGING AND ARC DISRUPTING DEVICE.

APPLICATION TILED JULY 11, 1907.

933,027, I Patented Aug. 31, 1909.

u I? F .1.

fig. Z. 1 2g". 5.

ANDREW. B. mwwn c0- Pnomu'nmamwzns. wAsnmumm u. c.

UNTTED FREDERTC W25. EEIGKSON AND FREDEEIC W. L631), NEW YORK, I-T. Y.

Original application filed April 27,

Specification 01" Letters Fatent.

1907, Serial No. 370,567.

EPatented Aug. 3 l 19 e 9 Divided and this application filed July 11, 1907.

Serial No. 383,235.

T 0 all whom it may concern:

Be it known that we, Fnnnniuo War. ERICKSON and Fiinnnnio 1V. Loan, residing at New York, in the county of New York and State of New York, have invented certain Improvements in Abnormal Potential-Discharging and AroDisrupting Devices, of which the following a specificat-ion.

In overhead electric transmission lines trouble is often experienced in central stations and sub-stations by lightning striking the line or striking near the line. This causes wave of currentof very high potential to momentarily flow over the line to the station and do damage to the electric apparatus therein. Similartrouble is caused by so called static charges on the line, as well as by short circuits, sudden changes of load, etc. All damage so caused may be avoided if an easy path to earth or ground is provided before any such almornnil wave of current reaches the station. It has been found that this extraordinary surge of current may be easily carried to earth, by connecting to the overhead line an electrode or terminal, and placing opposite and near thereto, but not touching it, a second terminal or electrode which in turn is grounded or connected to earth. It has been found, however, that this static discharge or abnormal surge of current will cause a spark to jump across these terminals, thereby furnishing a path of relative low resistance to earth, which, as is well known, is due to the volatilized particles of the electrode made by the spark. This low resistance path, once esfetablished, will result in the heavy discharge and flow of the normal current over it, as evidenced by the so-called following are. This following arc is most difiicult to extinguish, and the invention which we are about to describe provides a combination of terminals, one of which is connected to earth and the other connected to the overhead line that is to be protected, and a. means to quickly and effectually dissipate and extinguish the following are which the normal line current tends to sustain.

Of the drawings which form a part of this specification and illustrate the invention; Figure 1 is a side view of the invention, Fig. 2 is a side view of a disk having perforations near its perimeter, and Fig. 3

l l l. l l l is a modification of the disk having a toothed or serrated edge.

In Fig. l the electrode 9 is connected by the conductor 12 to the over-head line which is to be protected. This electrode is held by an insulated support 10 mounted on base 1. The electrode 9 is capable of vertical.

adjustment by means of set screw 11.

The lower terminal, or electrode is connected to earth by conductor 8. It is supported by an insulated standard (3 mounted on base 1 and capable of vertical adjustment by means of set screw 7. On base 1 is mounted a driving motor 2. which is preferably an electric motor, but it may be any suitable source of pow This motor 2 furnishes continuous rotation to shaft- 3, which in turn causes the disk t to revolve. The construction and motion of this disk forms the essential part of the apparatus. The disk may be constructed of a highly insulating, porous material such as asbestos and openings are made at the edge or near the perimeter, as shown in 2 and The openings or perforations 20 are spaced equal distance apart and approximately on the same circumference. The openings in the edge of the disk are in form of serrations or teeth (see Fig. Or the disk may be of a non-porous material such as porcelain with perforations as above described. These perforations are so placed that they will come successively in the line of the electrodes as the disk revolves.

The electrodes are of sufficient width to span two contiguous perforations as shown in Fig. 2, so that no matter what the position of the disk may be there will always be a direct path through air from electrode to electrode, and, consequently, a direct path from the overhead line to earth, as follows: through the conductor 12, through the electrode 9, through the air-gap between electrode 9 and electrode 5, through electrode 5 and through conductor 8 to earth.

It will be seen from the above description that with either form of disk, there is an easy path from the overhead line to earth, intercepted only by the disk, which offers no greater static discharge barrier than if there were no disk of any form between the electrodes 9 and 5. This we have found. by extensive experiment to be true, because the spark caused by the abnormal surge of current will jump from electrodes 9 to 5 equally readily with no disk between the electrodes or with either form of disk revolving at a high rate of speed between the electrodes. With the disk revolving between the e1ectrodes the spark will always jump through the air space provided by the perforations, one of which will always be in the line of the electrodes.

.Ve claim as our invention 1. In an arc-dissipating device, spaced terminals located within the current path, and a rotor having an insulating disk permanently extending between the terminals, the axis of the disk extending in a direction parallel with and spaced from the line of shortest distance between said terminals, said disk being of larger area than a cross sectional area of the current path to provide an extended dissipating path, portions of which are successively positionable within the current path, said disk completing a revolution between successive passages of any given point thereof between the terminals.

2. In an arc-dissipating device, spaced terminals located within the current path, and a rotor having an insulating disk permanently extending between the terminals, the axis of the disk extending in a direction parallel with and spaced from the line of shortest distance between said terminals, said disk having a series of openings, said openings having their axes extending parallel with the axis of the disk and being arranged concentrically with respect to said axis, the wall of the inner portion of each opening being adjacent to but spaced from the periphery of the disk, the disk being positioned in a manner to permit the openings to pass successively between the terminals, said disk being of larger area than a cross sectional area of the current path to provide an extended dissipating" path, portions of which are successively positionable within thecurrent path, said disk completing a revolution between successive passages of any given point thereof between the terminals.

In testimony whereof, we have signed our names to this specification in the presence of two subscribing witnesses, this 5th day of f July, 1907.

FEEDER-IO lVM. ERIOKSON. FREDERIC WV. LORD. l/Vitnesses:

E. H. CURrIs, N. C. HAYNEs. 

